I am an aspiring researcher in Classical studies, with a particular interest in the 5th Century Greek Theatre and the languages of Ancient Greece and Rome.
This dissertation will consist of an investigation into the possibility of whether the tragedians... more This dissertation will consist of an investigation into the possibility of whether the tragedians Euripides and Sophocles may have used some of their plays in an attempt to heal the city of Athens from the Plague of Athens through the use of ritual and prayer within the dramas. Additionally, I will explore whether these attempts at healing, and the subsequent importation of the cult of Asclepius into Athens were then used to try to cure the city from the στάσις, essentially civil strife, that was afflicting it during the periods in which the plays may have been staged. The dissertation will be divided into three chapters. Chapter One will feature a discussion on the disease and healing-related aspects of Euripides’ Hippolytus and Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus. Chapter Two will examine the importation of the cult of Asclepius into Athens and will also analyse Euripides’ Herakles with regard to its possible use in healing στάσις. Chapter Three will examine Sophocles’ Philoctetes with regard to how it may have also been used to combat στάσις. My argument will conclude with an assertion that there is evidence that shows a distinct possibility that some of these plays did feature healing chants and rituals designed to combat both the Plague of Athens and the later στάσις which were afflicting the city.
This dissertation will consist of an investigation into the possibility of whether the tragedians... more This dissertation will consist of an investigation into the possibility of whether the tragedians Euripides and Sophocles may have used some of their plays in an attempt to heal the city of Athens from the Plague of Athens through the use of ritual and prayer within the dramas. Additionally, I will explore whether these attempts at healing, and the subsequent importation of the cult of Asclepius into Athens were then used to try to cure the city from the στάσις, essentially civil strife, that was afflicting it during the periods in which the plays may have been staged. The dissertation will be divided into three chapters. Chapter One will feature a discussion on the disease and healing-related aspects of Euripides’ Hippolytus and Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus. Chapter Two will examine the importation of the cult of Asclepius into Athens and will also analyse Euripides’ Herakles with regard to its possible use in healing στάσις. Chapter Three will examine Sophocles’ Philoctetes with regard to how it may have also been used to combat στάσις. My argument will conclude with an assertion that there is evidence that shows a distinct possibility that some of these plays did feature healing chants and rituals designed to combat both the Plague of Athens and the later στάσις which were afflicting the city.
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Papers by Scott Porter
The dissertation will be divided into three chapters. Chapter One will feature a discussion on the disease and healing-related aspects of Euripides’ Hippolytus and Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus. Chapter Two will examine the importation of the cult of Asclepius into Athens and will also analyse Euripides’ Herakles with regard to its possible use in healing στάσις. Chapter Three will examine Sophocles’ Philoctetes with regard to how it may have also been used to combat στάσις.
My argument will conclude with an assertion that there is evidence that shows a distinct possibility that some of these plays did feature healing chants and rituals designed to combat both the Plague of Athens and the later στάσις which were afflicting the city.
The dissertation will be divided into three chapters. Chapter One will feature a discussion on the disease and healing-related aspects of Euripides’ Hippolytus and Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus. Chapter Two will examine the importation of the cult of Asclepius into Athens and will also analyse Euripides’ Herakles with regard to its possible use in healing στάσις. Chapter Three will examine Sophocles’ Philoctetes with regard to how it may have also been used to combat στάσις.
My argument will conclude with an assertion that there is evidence that shows a distinct possibility that some of these plays did feature healing chants and rituals designed to combat both the Plague of Athens and the later στάσις which were afflicting the city.